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DPP calls for DOH head to rein in virus or step down

“The officials involved have no idea what they are doing. I think the president should help.” — Tien Chiu-chin, DPP legislator

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday called for Department of Health Minister (DOH) Lin Fang-yue (林芳郁) to step down if he cannot bring the enterovirus outbreak under control.

“The Cabinet should do something about it. If not, Lin should take responsibility and resign,” DPP caucus whip Yeh Yi-ching (葉宜津) told a press conference.

Yeh also brought up remarks Lin made two weeks ago, when he said the “enterovirus was out of control and all we can do is pray.”

Lin later apologized for the comment.

As of Tuesday, 245 serious enterovirus cases, including eight fatalities, had been identified this year. Most cases have been children under the age of five.

The Cabinet activated an epidemic emergency response center on earlier this month to deal with the outbreak.

DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) suggested that the age group affected by the outbreak could start expanding and urged Lin “not to pray any more but to begin making crucial decisions.”

DPP Legislator Lin Shu-fen (林淑芬) said Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) and Lin Fang-yue could not understand how parents feel because neither of them have young children.

DPP Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) urged President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to get involved.

“It seems to me that the Cabinet cannot handle this. The officials involved have no idea what they are doing. I think the president should help,” Tien said.

Legislator Huang Wei-cher (黃偉哲) questioned Lin Fang-yue’s statement on Monday that the outbreak was beginning to subside, asking whether the fact that no new cases had been reported over the weekend was only because epidemic control personnel were not in their offices.

If so, the DOH should clarify the situation immediately, he said.

The enterovirus outbreak began in the south earlier this year and has spread northward.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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